Update to Dolphin Bag Limit

June 21, 2021

After much discussion by the Council, the South Atlantic Fisheries Management Office has reached a preliminary consensus about upcoming changes to management measures affecting our Dolphin fishery. These actions, if approved, will go into effect on January 1, 2022. These steps are being taken in response to the universal concern expressed by both charter and recreational fishermen in the Florida Keys and South Florida. The overall consensus seems to support a decline in the dolphin fishery affecting both size and quantity of the fish being caught. 

While boats in South Florida supported the change, fishermen in the Carolinas opposed a decrease in the 60 fish per vessel limit by citing potential negative economic impacts. They also claim that dolphin meat is “too damn good.” 

Our team has carefully discussed this internally and after hundreds of hours of deliberation we have decided that a 60-fish limit may in fact be excessive. Our new proposal will strike a healthy medium so everyone is happy. We will be reducing the bag limit to 59 dolphin. 

Considering the mercury content found in dolphin, our scientists were shocked to find out that fishermen have been eating these things at all. Before consuming dolphin, please educate yourselves about this important marine mammal. 

You can find more information about the dangers of eating dolphin here: https://www.conservationmagazine.org/2014/11/the-dangers-of-eating-dolphin-meat/ 

Does NOAA seem out of touch? Contact the Southeast Regional Office.